I'm going to start this off the same way I seem to start every chapter, and that is with an apology. Sorry for the long wait between chapters! This year has been insanely busy, and though I more or less knew what I wanted to do with this chapter, I just couldn't find the time to sit down and write it. I hope you are not too upset with me. Thank you, though, for you patience, thank you to those of you who are following the story, and thank you to anyone who has been kind enough to leave reviews! Your support is very appreciated!
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Vikings, only the OC's.
Chapter Seventeen
The first day of travel passed by far more quickly than Signe had thought it would. She, Torstein, and Gunnar traveled along side by side, letting their horses trot at a leisurely pace so as not to exert the animals, passing the time by talking about past raids, telling funny stories from their childhood, or recounting their favorite tales of the Gods. They stopped when the sun was at its highest peak in the sky to have lunch and let their horses get some water, before setting off again. They did not stop again until sundown, when they quickly found a place to make camp and settle down for the night. They ended up choosing a small cluster of trees and bushes to settle under so that they would have both some cover, as well as easy access to wood and kindling for the fire they intended to build.
"This is just as good a place as any," Torstein said as his blue eyes surveyed the stretching landscape all around them, clearly not seeing any other spot that might be better than the one they were currently in.
Signe nodded and climbed down from her horse. Torstein did the same, as did Gunnar. Signe did not miss the way Gunnar winced and hissed once he was on his own two feet again, his expression full of discomfort. Signe immediately frowned with concern, afraid that the extended riding time was causing him too much strain.
"Are you well, brother?" she asked.
Gunnar shot her a look. "I am fine. I am just fairly certain I might have left my rear end back in Kattegat," he said, rubbing his undoubtedly numb backside. "I also fear that I have smashed one of my balls," he added with another cringe.
Torstein laughed heartily at what he had said, but Signe just rolled her eyes, her concern for her brother's well being instantly evaporating. There was a lot she had learned to take in stride after spending her entire life surrounded by men, but she did not need to know about the current state of her brother's nether regions. Taking her horse by the reins, she went to tether it to a nearby tree so that it would not run off. As she went walking past Gunnar, she took the opportunity to whack him upside the back of the head.
Gunnar made a sound of indignation. "What was that for?" he demanded to know.
"For being vulgar and disgusting," she said simply.
Gunnar reached up to rub the spot where she had struck him, mumbling something under his breath and giving her a dirty look in the process. Signe quirked a brow and gave him a look that dared him to repeat what he had said a little louder, so that she could hear it. Gunnar didn't, though, just eyed her for one more moment before going to tie his horse up next to hers.
Once their horses were secure, Signe told Gunnar to rest then went with Torstein to chop down some tree limbs to use for their fire. When they returned, Torstein arranged the wood in a pile in the middle of their camp and, with an ease that impressed Signe quite a bit, got a fire going. The sun disappeared beneath the horizon shortly after, casting the land around their campsite into darkness.
Signe sat close to the fire, eating her supper of cheese, meat, and bread, only barely listening to the conversation taking place between Gunnar and Torstein. Her eyes were on the landscape beyond the orange glow of their campsite. With only the moon overhead for light, it was a bit difficult to see what exactly lay in the distance. She could make out trees and shrubbery here or there, as well as what looked like an abandoned, broken down wagon not too far from where they had made camp, but the dim light made it hard to see much of anything else. She realized that if something – or someone – were lurking out there somewhere that they would likely not see them until they were nearly upon their campsite, which made her more than a little uneasy. Things like this had not bothered her when she had camped under the stars with the Hedeby warriors while they had been on their way to Kattegat – with the amount of comrades surrounding her, she had felt secure and protected. But now it was only her, Gunnar, and Torstein, and though she knew they were all skilled fighters, the lack of reinforcements made her feel vulnerable.
Signe sighed and turned her attention back to Torstein and Gunnar as the two started laughing loudly. She took another bite of food, then grabbed for the horn cup sitting on the ground next to her and took a long drink of ale.
"He did what?" Torstein asked with a laugh as Signe finally tuned back into the conversation.
"You heard me correctly, friend," Gunnar said with a nod, before glancing over at her. "Do you remember that, Signe?" he asked around his chuckles, looking greatly amused.
"Remember what?" Signe asked, having no clue as to what they were talking about because she hadn't really been paying attention.
"When Hallsteinn got so drunk he accidently climbed into bed with old man Eigil," Gunnar said with a smirk.
Signe immediately snorted into her ale with amusement. "Oh, yes. I remember vividly," she said with a laugh. "It was the night Valborg married his wife," she said, shifting her attention to Torstein. "Hallsteinn took great joy in celebrating our brother's union to Ingelill. I think he drank more ale than all of us combined," she explained.
"More than all of Hedeby combined, more like," Gunnar interjected.
Signe nodded. "Well," she continued, "there was a girl in town he had been flirting with for several weeks and whom he had taken quite a liking to."
"Ahhh, Olga," Gunnar said wistfully. Because he had had quite the crush on Olga, too. So had Garik and, well, so had just about every other man in Hedeby. "She was beautiful, Torstein. Beautiful. One of the most beautiful women you would ever have the privilege of laying eyes on," he insisted vehemently.
Torstein glanced at Signe, before quirking a brow at Gunnar. "Is that so?"
"Yes. She made all other women look like a bunch of hairy dogs in comparison," Gunnar said with a nod. "Present company excluded, of course," he quickly added, smirking and raising his drink to Signe.
Signe just gave him a look in return. "Anyway," she continued, "Eigil was Olga's father. He was old and cranky and very protective of his daughter. He threatened to kill any man who dared to look at her with dishonorable intentions. Needless to say, he was none the wiser of the fact that Hallsteinn had been secretly romancing Olga behind his back." Signe smirked now. "He became very aware of it, however, when Hallsteinn attempted to visit Olga in secret the night of Valborg's wedding, only to accidently crawl right into bed with Eigil himself!"
The three of them broke into loud laughter at that. When they sobered up, Torstein shook his head, still grinning. "What happened next?"
"Old Man Eigil was furious and chased Hallsteinn out of his house with a battle axe," Gunnar said. "Chased him all the way back to the wedding festivities. We, of course, were good and drunk by that point, and when Hallsteinn came back shouting that someone was attempting to kill him, we had no choice but to jump to his defense. There was nearly a brawl right then and there, but our father was able to calm the situation before it had the chance to grow out of hand," he explained. "Hallsteinn was lucky to escape that night unscathed. Old Man Eigil wanted to mount his testicles on the wall like a trophy."
Torstein winced immediately. "That would not have been pleasant."
"Not at all," Gunnar agreed.
Torstein took a drink of ale, then raised his brows curiously. "What became of Hallsteinn and this Olga?" he asked next.
"Nothing," Signe answered. "They were banned from seeing, or even being near, one another after that night."
"Yes, and then Eigil married her off to that rich Swedish fellow who came through town," Gunnar added with a note of disdain. "Eigil only liked him because he had so much money. They stayed in Hedeby long enough to get married, then disappeared to Sweden shortly after. Eigil went too. No one has seen them since," Gunnar concluded.
"Hallsteinn must have been upset," Torstein commented.
Signe and Gunnar both snorted. "Not really," Signe said with a shake of her head. "Hallsteinn has never been the marrying type. I should think it vill take quite an extraordinary woman to make him settle down."
"But he vill likely be far too busy with his long line of admirers to even notice such a woman," Gunnar interjected with a huff. "Hallsteinn never hurts for company, and so long as the women keep fawning over him, marriage vill be the last thing on his mind."
"I see," Torstein said, nodding in understanding.
Gunnar paused to take a drink of ale. He then raised his brows at Torstein. "I would not repeat any of that story to Hallsteinn, by the way," he warned. "Not unless you want him to attempt to kill you in your sleep for laughing at his misfortunes."
"Do not worry, Torstein. Gunnar is exaggerating," Signe said quickly when she saw the way Torstein's brows raised.
"Am I?" Gunnar asked knowingly. "This is Hallsteinn we are speaking of."
Signe pressed her lips together, taking a moment to consider the way her older brother behaved, especially so toward Torstein. In the end, she decided that maybe Gunnar was right to warn Torstein. "Perhaps it is better to keep this to ourselves," she suggested with a cringe.
Torstein smirked a bit, looking unworried but still nodding in understanding. "I vill heed your advice, then," he assured them.
They talked and drank ale for a few more hours, until they all decided that it was time to get to bed and get a good night of sleep before they were due to set off again the next day. Gunnar fell asleep with no problem and began snoring the moment he got himself comfortable. Even Torstein seemed to fall asleep quickly in his temporary bed on the opposite side of the fire. As for Signe, however, sleep was a bit more evasive. Between the hard ground beneath her back and the knowledge that they were out in the open, where anything could be skulking nearby, she just couldn't get her body – or her mind – comfortable enough to fall asleep.
After a while she found herself needing to relieve her bladder and got up from her bed, before disappearing into the nearby trees. Upon returning to their camp, she was surprised to see Torstein sitting upright, looking very much awake.
"I thought you were asleep," Signe said quietly so as not to disturb Gunnar.
"I almost was, but then I heard you get up and wanted to make sure everything was alright," Torstein said in response.
"I am fine," Signe said with a nod. "Just…having a bit of trouble falling asleep," she admitted with a shrug.
"Ah, I see," Torstein said. "Well, since we are both awake, come and sit and talk with me for a bit."
"You are sure?" Signe asked. "I do not want to keep you up if you are tired."
He just waved off her words, then motioned for her to sit next to him. Signe glanced at Gunnar, who was sleeping peacefully, then went to sit next to Torstein so that they could talk quietly without running the risk of waking up Gunnar. She eased down onto the ground beside him and leaned back on her hands, stretching out her legs so that her booted feet were close to the warm fire.
"So," Torstein said to break the silence. "What is keeping you from your sleep?"
Signe shrugged. "Being out in the open like this…it makes me feel wary," she admitted, glancing pointedly at their surroundings. "It vas not so bad when we were with all the Hedeby warriors, but now..."Signe shook her head. "I feel as though something vill surprise us when we least expect it."
"Which is exactly why I did not want you and Gunnar making this journey alone," Torstein told her. "If I were in Kattegat right now, safe in my home, while you and Gunnar were out here facing who knows what…I vould have gone mad with worry."
Signe smiled at him, touched by the fact that he was so concerned for their wellbeing. "Well, I am glad you are not going mad," she said. "And to be perfectly honest, I am glad that you are here with us," she added pointedly.
"I am glad, too," Torstein said as he smiled back at her.
She held Torstein's gaze for a moment, then turned her eyes to the fire. A strong breeze blew around their camp in the next moment, making the trees overhead sway and the fire before them flicker harder than it had been before. Signe shivered a bit and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling slightly chilled. Winter was still a ways off, but there was no denying that the air was already beginning to cool down in preparation of the season to come.
"Cold?" Torstein asked.
"Only a bit," Signe said, waving a dismissive hand.
Before she had a chance to say or do anything more, Torstein was reaching for something that rested on the ground beside him. It was his red cloak, the one she had washed and returned to him right after the battle, and he wasted no time to drop it around her shoulders. Signe was immediately surrounded by both warmth and the woodsy scent that always clung to Torstein. She smiled at him gratefully and held the cloak around her shoulders tighter, finding that she quite enjoyed the way it swamped her. It made her feel shielded and protected from the outside world.
"You and Bjorn seemed to finally be back to normal before we left Kattegat," Torstein eventually said to break the silence that had stretched between them.
Signe glanced at him, then shrugged. "I would not say we are back to normal, but we are…better," she confirmed. "He seemed to not want me to leave with us still being at odds with one another, and I did not either, so I was glad he came to speak with me," she said with a nod.
"What did he say?" Torstein asked.
"He told me he was sorry and how much he regretted how badly things had gone between us," Signe explained. "I apologized as well for being so unkind to him. Then we hugged, and…that was that."
Torstein nodded slowly. "You must be relieved."
Signe nodded. "I am," she said truthfully. "It makes me happy to know that there may still be hope for Bjorn and I to mend our friendship," she said with a nod, her eyes watching the flames sway about. "However, I will not truly know what will become of anything until I see him again, and see for myself whether or not things have changed between us."
"I think everything will be fine," Torstein said optimistically. "The time apart might be a good thing. You vill realize how much you miss each other's friendship, and it vill leave you nothing but ecstatic when you are reunited."
Signe sighed. "Perhaps so…assuming, of course, he does not forget about me."
Torstein nudged her with his elbow. "He vill not," he said firmly, before giving her a smirk. "Trust when I say that you are not a woman who is forgettable, Signe Olegdóttir."
Signe couldn't stop herself from blushing in response to his words. She didn't know what to say in return, so she just gave him a small, almost shy smile, before turning her gaze back to the fire, hoping the dim lighting was enough to conceal her flushed cheeks from Torstein's gaze.
"It is getting late," Signe eventually said after a long lull of silence. "We should sleep."
After Torstein nodded in agreement, Signe stood up and slipped off the cloak he had placed around her shoulders. With a quick word of thanks, she handed it back to Torstein, who accepted the garment with a nod.
"Goodnight, Torstein," she told him with a smile.
"Goodnight, Signe," he said in response.
She went back to be bed after that and made herself comfortable again, watching the trees above their camp sway in the wind until their rhythmic movements finally lulled her to sleep.
The next day passed exactly as the previous one had. The three of them woke early, had breakfast, then broke down their camp and continued on their way. They rode until noon, where they had lunch and let their horses recuperate, then resumed their trek again, only stopping to make camp for the night once the sun was going down.
On the third day of their travel, Signe could see that the journey was beginning to take a bit of a toll on Gunnar. Whether it was because of the long hours of riding or the nights spent sleeping on the hard ground, she wasn't sure, but it was obvious that he was beginning to struggle. He didn't voice any of his pain aloud, of course, being the stubborn fool that he was, but Signe knew her brother, and she knew that his weakened body wasn't handling the trip as well as she would have hoped.
"Do you need to rest?" Signe asked after witnessing what had to be Gunnar's fifth failed attempt to conceal a grimace of discomfort.
Gunnar shook his head. "No," he said, despite the fact that he was clenching his jaw and wincing a bit. "I am fine. Let us keep going."
Signe stared at him for a moment, then sighed and looked to Torstein. "Can we break for a moment?" she asked.
Torstein's brows furrowed questioningly, but he nodded his head regardless. Gunnar tried to protest and insist that he was fine, but Signe ignored him and simply steered her horse closer to his so that she could snatch his reins from his hands and pull his horse to a halt herself, so that her brother had no choice but to stop.
"Signe, this is hardly necessary," Gunnar heaved as she dismounted her horse and gave him an expectant look.
Signe jutted her chin upward and pinned him with a firm look. "Come down and rest," she ordered.
"Signe," he started to protest again.
"Come down and rest," she repeated with more force. "Or I shall make you come down," she added threatening.
Gunnar scoffed. "I vould like to see you try," he challenged.
Signe glared, then turned to the bigger, stronger Torstein, who had dismounted from his tall horse and was watching the exchange in silence. "Torstein, if it is not an inconvenience, could you help me drag my stubborn brother down from his horse?" she asked.
The expression on Torstein's face hinted that he would rather not get involved in their spat, but, after a moment, he finally shrugged and then took a step forward to do as she had asked. Upon realizing that he was outnumbered and that Torstein was absolutely going to haul him off of his horse, Gunnar finally scowled and held up a hand to stop Torstein's movements.
"Alright," he snapped irritably. "If it vill make you stop nagging at me, I vill come down."
Signe stepped back, watching with a close eye as Gunnar slowly climbed down from his horse, grumbling under his breath the whole way. Once he was on solid ground again, he shot Signe a disgruntled look and took his reins back from her, before leading his horse over to a large rock some ten feet away. With a weary sigh, Gunnar sat down on the rock and dropped his face into his hands while his horse began to graze nearby.
Torstein frowned as he came to stand next to Signe, casting a concerned look in Gunnar's direction. "He does not look well," he observed.
Signe shook her head. "No. And the fool's stubbornness vill only make matters worse, because he vill just continue to push himself despite the pain," she muttered with a huff. She crossed her arms over her chest, before raising her eyebrows at Torstein. "I feared this would happen," she confessed. "I feared the journey would be too hard on him."
Torstein nodded slowly. "What do you wish to do?"
Signe thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "Turning back is out of the question," she stated with a shake of her head. "But there is no rush to get to Hedeby, either. Perhaps we should rest for a day or two and allow Gunnar to recover a little before continuing on," she finally suggested.
Torstein pursed his lips as he thought the suggestion over. "Lying on the hard ground vill not help him much," he pointed out.
"Is there any other option?" Signe asked with a helpless frown.
"Actually, there might be," Torstein said, which made her give him a questioning look. "We are not too far from the village my sister lives in," he revealed. "It vould take us a little off course, but we could go there and stay with her and her family for as long as Gunnar needs," he suggested. "She vill have food and a comfortable bed for him to sleep on. We vill be able to use the village market to restock our supplies as well."
It wasn't a bad plan at all. She knew from the journey from Hedeby to Kattegat that there wouldn't be many places where they could stop and replenish the supplies they had used. And if Gunnar was going to make it through the rest of the trip, then he needed a decent place to rest and gather his strength. What better place to do so than in the home of Torstein's sister? It was certainly better than sleeping in the wild, and Tóra would likely be far more friendly and accommodating than any strangers they might meet along the way.
"How far is it?" Signe asked.
Torstein glanced at the sun overhead, before turning his eyes back to her. "If we keep a steady enough pace, we can be there before sundown," he said with a nod.
"And your sister would not mind?" Signe asked uncertainly. "I vould hate to intrude on them so unexpectedly."
Torstein waved off her concerns. "Tóra will be fine, I am certain of it," he assure her. "Besides, I am long overdue for a visit. I have no doubt she vill be happy to see us."
Signe considered his words for one more moment, then finally nodded. "Very well," she agreed. "If you truly believe we will not be an inconvenience, then we will go to Tóra's." She glanced at Gunnar, who still hadn't moved. "Let us just give Gunnar a little while longer to rest, then we will go."
Torstein nodded, then went to give Gunnar some water, but not without patting Signe on the shoulder and giving her a smile first.
They took a break for about an hour, helping themselves to an early lunch in the process. Eventually, once Signe was confident that Gunnar was at least looking a little better, they climbed back onto their horses and resumed their journey, only this time they turned their sights westward. With Torstein acting as their guide, they were soon on their way to the village Tóra and her family resided in.
It wasn't until the sun was beginning to set that the village finally popped into view. It was very small, far smaller than both Hedeby and Kattegat, and didn't look to be very busy, though she supposed the hour of day could have had something to do with that. Instead of riding into the heart of the village like Signe expected they might do, Torstein veered off the dirt road and started northward. They rode for another twenty minutes, passing a few small farms along the way, until they finally reached a quaint home located just by the edge of the forest.
Signe eyed the home, as well as the small barn next to it. The home wasn't very big, just large enough to comfortably house a small family, but it looked well built and carefully maintained. She could see the glow of a warm fire through the windows and could hear chickens clucking away in the barn, and all in all, she got a very warm and friendly vine off of the place. She was instantly glad she agreed to Torstein's plan – even if part of her felt a tiny bit guilty for intruding on Tóra's home, she couldn't deny that it would be a welcome change to be sleeping indoors again.
Just as they began to dismount their horses, the front door opened and a man stepped outside, his expression serious and alert. He was probably about Signe's height, was rather on the burly side, and had dark hair, as well as a dark beard, Signe thought it safe to assume the man was Torstein's brother-in-law. The man started toward them, carrying an axe in his left hand – obviously the unexpected arrival of three people had put him on his guard. He looked at Gunnar first, who was grimacing and leaning on Signe's shoulder, then looked at her. Finally his eyes moved to Torstein, and as soon he realized who was there, he instantly relaxed. He set his axe aside and stepped closer, wearing a wide, welcoming smile now.
"Torstein!" he greeted loudly. "We had no idea you were coming!"
Torstein laughed and embraced the shorter, stouter man. They clapped each other on the back heartily, clearly very happy to see one another. "I was in the region and thought I would surprise you," he said as they released one another.
"And what a pleasant surprise it is. Tóra and Leif will be thrilled to see you," the man said with a nod and a grin. He looked to Signe and Gunnar again, his brows raising curiously. "Who are your travelling companions?" he asked.
Signe and Gunnar moved forward to join Torstein when he motioned them over. Once she was standing next to Torstein, he placed a large hand on her back and smiled broadly. "These are good friends of mine. Allow me to introduce you to Signe and her brother, Gunnar," he said. "Signe, Gunnar, this is my brother-in-law Jorund," he then introduced.
"A pleasure to meet you," Signe said, smiling and inclining her head to Jorund. Gunnar just nodded to the man once.
"Likewise," Jorund said in response.
"Uncle Torstein!" a voice suddenly cried.
The sound of the new voice had Signe looking toward the house. A boy of about seven had just come dashing through the front door and was now sprinting full speed toward Torstein. Torstein grinned and opened his arms, dropping down to a knee so that he was level with the boy. The boy did not hesitate to throw himself into Torstein's waiting arms as soon as he was close enough to do so, looking absolutely elated and giggling like mad. Torstein chuckled and stood to his full height, lifting the boy off the ground and swinging him from side to side as he hugged him tightly.
"And how is my favorite nephew?" he asked, smiling broadly at the boy as he set him back on his feet.
"I am your only nephew!" the boy reminded him accusingly.
"Still my favorite," Torstein argued back, ruffling the boy's dark hair.
Signe smiled as the boy just grinned up at Torstein, his eyes filled with awe and adoration. It was very clear from just this short interaction that Torstein and his nephew absolutely adored one another.
"You have been behaving yourself, yes?" Torstein asked, crossing his arms over his chest and raising his brows.
"Of course I have!" the boy exclaimed, despite the fact that his father suddenly widened his eyes comically and vehemently shook his head to silently contradict the boy's claims. Signe smirked with amusement, then looked back to the boy as he continued on. "I help mother and father with the farm every day, and I have even begun hunting with father!" he revealed. "I caught three rabbits just yesterday!" he told his uncle proudly.
"Three?" Torstein said, his tone one of exaggerated amazement. "An impressive number. I am proud of you," he praised with a broad smile.
The boy, if possible, grinned even wider. He started like he was going to say something else, but then, quite suddenly, his eyes turned to Signe and Gunnar, whom he seemed to only just now realize were present. His eyes widened a bit and his brows raised, before his expression shifted to one of bashfulness and his cheeks turned pink. He even stepped closer to Torstein, as if he were contemplating hiding behind him.
The rapid shift in his demeanor had Signe raising a curious brow at Jorund, who smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Leif tends to be a little…shy…around strangers," he explained.
"I see," Signe said with a nod of understanding.
"You do not have to be shy around them, Leif," Torstein reassured the boy, casting a quick smile at Signe over his shoulder. "Signe and Gunnar are my friends, and they are very nice people," he said, nodding.
Leif looked from Torstein to Signe, his cheeks still burning pink. "I am happy to meet you, Leif," Signe said with a friendly smile, just to prove Torstein's words.
The boy blushed even harder, but, finally, a small, shy smile flickered across his lips. "Hi," he said back.
The sound of approaching footsteps alerted everyone to the arrival of yet another person. Signe looked past the men and spotted a blonde haired woman walking quickly in their direction with a big smile on her face. Judging by the way Torstein beamed at her, there was no doubt in Signe's mind that this was his sister, Tóra. Because Torstein was so tall himself, Signe had half expected that Tóra would be tall, too. To her surprise, she discovered that Tóra was actually rather short, standing just tall enough for the top of her head to reach Torstein's chest. When the two siblings hugged one another tightly, Torstein practically swamped the woman because he was so much bigger than her.
"I can hardly believe my eyes," Tóra said, pulling back and placing her hands on Torstein's bearded cheeks. The large smile on her face was bright enough to rival the sun. "I am happy to see you, brother. It has been too long."
"Indeed it has," Torstein agreed. "And I am happy to see you, as well, dear sister."
Torstein kissed his sister on the top of her head and hugged her again. When they pulled away from one another, Tóra looked to Signe next, her brows raising just slightly. Now that she had a better view of her face, Signe could see that Torstein and Tóra didn't look like each other very much – their hair was the exact same shade of golden blonde and their eyes were the same, but that was where the similarities ended. Tóra was a pretty woman, though, there was no denying that.
"We have not met," Tóra stated, looking from Signe to Gunnar, then back again.
"No, we have not," Signe confirmed. "I am Signe, and this is my brother, Gunnar," she introduced. Gunnar muttered out a quick 'hello'. "We are friends of your brother."
Tóra nodded. "Well, I am glad to meet you. I am Tóra. And any friend of Torstein's is a friend of mine," she told them warmly.
Signe took Tora's words as a good sign that the family in front of her was not upset with their unannounced arrival. "I hope our coming here is not an inconvenience," she said with an apologetic look. "I am sure you were not expecting company tonight.
Tóra waved her off. "No, we were not. But the arrival of family is never an inconvenience, and trust when I say that you are very welcome here," she insisted firmly. Torstein flashed Signe a look that said, I told you so. "I am curious as to what brings you this way, however," Tóra continued, shooting her brother a curious look.
"It is a bit of a long story, but, to put it simply, Signe and Gunnar are from Hedeby," Torstein started to explain. "They came to Kattegat to help Ragnar win his home back from the invading Jarl Borg. Gunnar was injured in battle, however, so they remained in Kattegat after the battle so that he could heal properly. I am seeing them back to Hedeby now, but the road was proving a little too strenuous for Gunnar, who is still healing," he said. "We were hoping, if it is not an inconvenience, to perhaps stay here for a time so that Gunnar can rest properly before we continue on our journey."
Tóra took one look at Gunnar, who had given up on trying to mask the pain he was in, before she nodded her head. "Of course," she agreed. "It vill be a tight squeeze, but we vill find a way to accommodate the three of you. I have some herbs inside, too, which may be of some help for your brother," she added, looking to Signe.
Signe felt a huge rush of gratitude toward Tóra. "That vould be wonderful. Thank you very much," she said.
Tóra nodded. "You are welcome."
Tóra then shared a quick look with Jorund, who nodded to her after a moment or two of silent conversation. "I will see your horses to the barn," Jorund offered. "They will be comfortable there."
After Signe, Torstein, and Gunnar had collected their travelling packs from their horses, Jorund grabbed the horses by their reins and began to lead them to the barn. "Come inside," Tóra urged. "Dinner is almost ready and the three of you look as though you could use a decent meal."
Torstein nodded, then grabbed Leif and threw him over his shoulder, making the boy break into a fit of giggles. Signe smiled at the sight, watching Torstein's broad back as he marched away with his nephew. She couldn't exactly say why, but something about the way Torstein and his nephew interacted made her chest fill with warmth. She knew very well that Torstein was a kind man at heart, but to see him being so playful and doting with Leif...it was endearing, and just downright sweet.
Feeling eyes on her, Signe shifted her gaze to Tóra, whom she realized had been watching her while she had been watching Torstein walk away. There was interest in Tora's blue eyes, as if she was curious about Signe. But the look was gone in the next second, replaced quickly by a warm, friendly smile. "Come, Signe," she said. "I can show you where your brother may rest."
Signe nodded, then, with Gunnar by her side, she followed Tóra inside.
It was warm and cozy inside, and it smelled heavily of fresh bread and cooking meat. The wonderful scent was enough to make Signe's mouth water and her stomach growl, but she hampered down the urge to sniff out the dinner she would soon be having and instead followed Tóra to a small room to the left. One look at the bedroom was enough to let Signe know that this was normally where Leif slept, but it appeared that Tóra intended to kick the boy out for the night.
"The bed may be a bit small for him," she said, eyeing Gunnar's tall frame as she turned down the covers on the bed. "But he will be far more comfortable here than he vill be anywhere else."
Signe nodded, then, when Tóra stepped back, she helped Gunnar onto the bed. He was indeed too big – his feet extended out at least a foot past the end of the bed – but he looked instantly relieved once he was lying on the soft, comfortable mattress.
"Thank you," he said to Tóra. "I vill try my hardest not to dirty the mattress," he promised with a small smile, referring to the fact that he was rather filthy from the past few days spent on the road.
"Do not trouble yourself over it if you do," Tóra said with a reassuring nod. "You only need to worry about getting your rest." After Gunnar nodded in response, Tóra gave them a small smile. "I vill make you a plate of food," she said with a nod.
With that, Tóra brushed past them and headed back toward the living area. Now alone with Gunnar, Signe made quick work of pulling off his boots and setting them aside, then went to help him out of the leather jerkin he had been wearing so that he could rest a little more comfortably. Gunnar sighed once the jerkin was off and settled further into the bed, giving her a half smile as he stared up at her.
"I am sorry for causing a delay in our journey," Gunnar apologized. "And I am sorry for snapping at you earlier. You were only trying to look after me. I should not have been impatient with you."
Signe gave him a small smile as she sat next to him on the bed. "Do not apologize," she commanded. "I am well aware how large of a grouch you are when you are in pain," she said, which made him roll his eyes. "And do not worry over the delay, either. Hedeby is not going anywhere. It vill still be there, no matter if we arrive in a week or in a month. Take whatever time you need to feel better," she said with a firm nod. "I am in no rush."
Gunnar gave her a grateful loom and nodded, one of his hand finding hers and giving it a quick squeeze. "You are a good sister," he told her. "Furthermore, you are a good friend," he added with a fond smile.
"You are not so bad yourself," Signe said back, patting him gently on the top of his hand.
Tóra returned a few moments later, holding a plate of food in one hand and a cup of something steaming hot in the other hand. "Your dinner," she said, presenting a plate filled with juicy meat and soft, warm bread. Gunnar's eyes lit at the sight of the food and he quickly sat up, leaning his back against the wall behind the bed. He accepted the plate eagerly, eyeing the food with ravenous eyes. "Drink this after," Tóra instructed, placing the steaming cup on the table beside the bed. "It vill help you sleep."
"Thank you very much," Gunnar said with a grateful nod.
"You are welcome," Tóra said. She then turned to Signe and smiled. "I have made a plate for you, as well," she said, nodding toward the other room, where Signe could hear Torstein and Leif chatting away. "Come and eat whenever you are ready."
"I vill be there shortly, thank you."
After Tóra left once again, Signe stayed to watch over Gunnar as he scarfed down his food in record timing. When he had finished, Signe took his plate and then handed him the drink Tóra had made for him, watching as Gunnar downed every last drop. Now full from dinner and on his way to what would hopefully be a good night of sleep, Gunnar lay down once more and turned onto his side to get comfortable. Signe tucked her brother in, kissed him on the top of his blonde hair, then left him to his rest.
Torstein, Tóra, Leif and Jorund were all sitting around the table when Signe walked back into the room. They were talking and laughing as they ate their dinners, the atmosphere in the room one of comfort and familiarity. They all turned to look at her as she entered the room, their conversation lulling for a moment – Leif, she noticed, started blushing again. Signe smiled at them and went to dispose of Gunnar's plate and cup, before joining the family at their table. She took the only open seat, which just so happened to be next to Torstein.
"How is he?" Torstein asked.
"Full and resting," Signe said with a smile and a nod.
"Good," Torstein said, patting her hand briefly before reaching for his ale.
Signe turned to Jorund and Tóra and gave them a grateful nod. "Again, I cannot thank you enough for taking us in. I am very grateful."
"You are very welcome," Jorund said with a kind smile. "Torstein has done much for us over the years. The least we could do in return was help his friends when they are in need," he explained with a nod, both he and Tóra giving Torstein fond smiles.
"I have not done that much," Torstein countered with a nonchalant wave.
"Do not listen to him," Tóra advised Signe. "He is merely being humble."
Signe glanced over at Torstein. "Of course he is," she said jokingly, already well aware of the fact that Torstein liked to downplay the good deeds he did.
Torstein just cocked a playful brow at her, which made Signe smile at him knowingly before reaching for her ale and taking a long sip.
Signe dug into her dinner after that, which she discovered tasted even better than it had smelled. Before long, she fell into easy conversation with Torstein and his family, quickly finding that Jorund and Tóra were incredibly easy to talk to. They were nice people, funny and kind and eager to make her feel at ease in their home. While they ate, they talked about Hedeby and Signe's time in Kattegat, then Tóra and Torstein began telling her funny stories from their childhood. Signe listened on intently, eager to learn more about the life Torstein had led before they had met. Torstein, she was not very surprised to learn, had actually been a bit of a trouble maker growing up. According to Tóra, Torstein and his brother, the one that he told her had been killed in battle, had spent more time in trouble rather than out of it because of their mischievousness.
"Torstein and Tormund were absolute terrors together," Tóra said with a laugh and shake of her head. "My brothers wreaked so much havoc, it is an impressive feat that our former home even still stands."
"We were not that bad," Torstein protested with a chuckle.
"Not that bad?" Tóra echoed incredulously. "So then who was it, exactly, that nearly set the barn on fire? And who set all those chickens loose in the market square? And who was it that – ?"
"Alright, alright," Torstein interjected loudly, which made Tóra stop recounting his apparently long list of misconducts and smirk at him with amusement. "Perhaps we got into a spot of trouble here or there," Torstein admitted to Signe with a shrug. "We were boys," he defended. "We liked to have fun."
Signe laughed. "Believe me, I know," she said. "I grew up with four older brothers of my own," she revealed, turning her eyes to Tóra. "They got into just as much trouble when they were children, and they are still known to cause trouble even now as grown men." Signe shrugged helplessly. "They vill do what they wish to do. I merely just keep my head down and do my best not to get caught up in their mischief."
While Torstein and Jorund chuckled, Tóra gave her a wide-eyed look. "Four brothers?" she asked incredulously. "And I thought having two older brothers was a challenge. I cannot even imagine what it vould be like to have more."
Signe smirked. "They can be a bit…overwhelming," she admitted. "But they are good men, and even though they drive me to madness more often than not, I still love them."
Tóra smiled gently at that, then flashed her brother an adoring smile. "Yes, I understand what you mean," she agreed. Torstein grinned back and inclined his head.
A brief silence fell over them as they each took a few bites of food. Signe couldn't help but glanced at Leif, who had been quietly eating his dinner in the seat across from her, seemingly content to just listen to their conversation rather than participate in it. When their eyes met, the boy flushed and quickly looked down at his food to break the eye contact. After a second, though, he chanced another glance at Signe. Upon seeing she was still looking at him, he looked down at his food again. Signe frowned a bit – his shyness was cute, but she was starting to fear that maybe the boy was afraid of her, which she didn't want.
Torstein must have seen the exchange, because he leaned close to Signe in the next moment. "Leif told me he thinks you are very pretty," he whispered in her ear, speaking only loud enough for her to hear. Warmth suddenly shot through her limbs, which she adamantly told herself had nothing to do with Torstein's close proximity, nor the warmth of his breath against her skin. "That is why he is so shy around you."
Signe looked over at Torstein, who winked at her, before she turned a wide, flattered smile on Leif. Leif, if possible, blushed even harder, which had Torstein chuckling into his ale.
"So, Signe," Jorund said to get the conversation going again, drawing Signe's attention back to him. "You fought alongside Torstein in the battle against Jarl Borg?"
Signe nodded in confirmation. "Indeed, I did."
"She saved my life, as well," Torstein was quick to interject, which made Jorund, Tóra, and even Leif look at her with raised brows.
"I was only able to do so because Torstein saved my life first," she told them, giving Torstein a quick, meaningful look. "A large, mountain of a man was determined to end me, but Torstein ensured that did not happen. It was only fair of me to return the favor," she explained with a small smile.
"She stopped a man from stabbing me in the back," Torstein said. "It was very kind of her to do so," he added with a joking smirk.
"I should say," Jorund agreed. "You must be a skilled fighter, Signe."
"She is," Torstein confirmed before Signe had a chance to say anything in response. "It was her first true battle, and she prevailed with only a few scrapes and bruises."
"Impressive," Jorund commented.
Signe flushed and waved a modest hand. "I was merely lucky," she said.
"And you say I am the humble one?" Torstein shot back, nudging her with his elbow.
Signe gave him a look in response, which had Torstein chuckling to himself.
She took another drink of ale, her eyes unconsciously turning to Tóra. Signe saw that the woman was glancing back and forth between her and Torstein with great interest, as if she was trying to figure out some sort of riddle. Unsure just what exactly that look meant, and unsure whether that look was good or bad, Signe decided to shift the focus of their conversation to someone else.
"Do you fight, Jorund?" she asked curiously.
"In the past, yes," Jorund said with a nod, his eyes darting quickly toward Tóra. Signe noticed that Tóra's expression had gone a bit tense as she took a quick sip of her ale. "After Tóra and I married, however, I lay down my weapons for good and devoted my life to the farm," Jorund continued, making Signe look to him again. Jorund smiled and reached for Tóra's hand, squeezing it. "My family is far more important than any raid or battle I might participate in."
Jorund raised Tóra's hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles, which had Tóra relaxing again and giving him a loving smile. Signe smiled at the affectionate gesture, then looked away so as to allow them a moment of privacy.
They finished dinner a short while later, and after several long minutes of arguing back and forth, Signe finally convinced a reluctant Tóra to let her help clean up the dishes from their meal. While Torstein, Jorund, and Leif went to sit around the hearth and talk amongst themselves, Signe and Tóra worked together to wash and dry all of the plates and utensils. For the first few minutes they worked in comfortable silence, Tóra scrubbing the dishes clean, then handing them over to Signe for drying. When Leif cane over to ask for a cup of water, Signe was the one to fetch it for him since Tóra's hands were covered in soapy water. After she handed the cup to the boy, he blushed and mumbled a quick thank you before hurrying away. Tóra watched him go, then looked up at Signe with an amused smile.
"I feel I must apologize for my son. He is normally not so shy," she said with a shake of her head.
Signe grinned and waved a hand. "No need for apology," she insisted. She glanced back at Leif, who was sitting on the floor at Torstein's feet, then smirked at Tóra. "Apparently he told Torstein I am very pretty," she revealed.
Tóra laughed. "So Leif has a crush," she quickly deciphered. "That certainly explains it," she mused with a nod.
"I think it is sweet," Signe said with a shrug and a smile.
Tóra smiled, then reached for another dish. She dunked it in the water and scrubbed it clean, before handing it to Signe. As she did so, she glanced back toward the men before shooting Signe a look.
"You and Torstein seem as though are close with one another," she commented casually.
Signe glanced back at Torstein, who was laughing at something Jorund had just told him, then nodded at Tóra. "I think we are," she confirmed. "The Gods were in a generous mood the day they sent Torstein to me," she said with a smile. "He has been very good to me, as well as to my brother. He is a very good man."
"Yes, he is," Tóra instantly agreed. "After our father and brother went to Valhalla, he took very good care of me and our mother. He has a big heart…though between you and me, he only tends to show it to those he cares for the most," she revealed in a lowered voice.
Signe's brows rose a bit at that. Tóra gave her what could only be described as a knowing smile, then turned her attention back to the dishes. While Tóra began to hum a song under her breath, Signe had to suddenly wonder just what Tóra thought her relationship with Torstein was. Did she believe that she and Torstein were more than just friends? Did Tóra think that she and Torstein were together?
Signe got the answers to those questions a short while later. After the dishes were finished, she and Tóra joined Torstein, Jorund, and Leif around the hearth. The four of them drank ale and talked for another hour, while Leif, who was still too shy around Signe to contribute to the conversation, played with a toy and listened to the chatter of the adults. When they decided that it was late and that they could all use some rest, Torstein, at his nephew's insistence, went to put Leif down for bed. As for Signe, she stepped into Leif's room to check on Gunnar, who was sound asleep, then headed outside to relieve her bladder before bedtime. Upon walking back inside, she was greeted with the sight of Jorund and Torstein sharing a few last words, while Tóra was putting the finishing touches on a large pallet that she had made on the floor next to the hearth. Signe noticed, with a small frown, that there were two pillows on the pallet, as though it had been made for two people, not just one.
"You and Torstein may sleep here tonight," Tóra said as she laid down the last blanket. "It is not much, but it is better than sleeping in the dirt."
Signe shared a look with Torstein, who seemed equally as surprised as she was. "Only one bed?" Signe questioned.
Tóra looked between Signe and Torstein, her expression one of surprise. Signe knew then that Tóra had thought that she and Torstein were together. The woman seemed shocked to learn that they were not. "Oh. Forgive me. I suppose I just assumed – " she began to explain.
Torstein raised a gentle hand to silence her. "It is alright, sister," he assured her to save her from explaining herself. "It was a simple misunderstanding." Torstein looked at Signe for a moment, then nodded toward the door. "Signe may have the bed. I vill sleep in the barn."
Both Signe and Tóra frowned. "Are you certain?" Signe asked.
Torstein nodded. "It would not be the first time I have done so, and I doubt it shall be the last."
Signe wasn't convinced, but nodded anyway. "Alright," she said slowly, though something about the thought of Torstein sleeping in the barn by himself still didn't sit well with her.
A brief silence fell over the room after that, before Jorund cleared his throat. "Well, we should say goodnight now," he announced, looking pointedly at his wife.
"Yes, we should," Tóra agreed after a moment's hesitation. "We shall see you both in the morning," she said, moving to join her husband. "Goodnight, Signe. Goodnight brother. Sleep well."
Signe and Torstein both said goodnight, then watched as Tóra and Jorund left the room. Once they were alone, Signe shared another look with Torstein, who had not moved from his spot on the other side of the room. She could not read the expression on his face, and she found that that bothered her a bit. What did he think of Tóra's assumption that they had been together? Did that bother him? Or did he just think it silly?
Finally Torstein pulled his gaze from hers and began to make his way over to the pallet, where he grabbed one of the pillows, as well as one of the blankets, before setting his sights on the door. Signe didn't know what came over her, but suddenly, she was speaking.
"You do not have to sleep in the barn," she blurted out without giving it a second thought.
Torstein froze and gave her a look of surprise. "What?"
Signe flushed, feeling a swell of nervousness in her belly. "The barn vill be smelly and uncomfortable," she pointed out. "Why not stay here? The bed is big enough for us both," she offered with a shrug.
Torstein still looked surprise. "Are you sure?" he asked. "It is not trouble for me to go to the barn."
Signe thought about it, then nodded. "I am certain," she reassured. "Stay here."
Torstein had to take a moment to think the offer over, but finally he nodded and set both the pillow and the blanket back where they had been. Knowing that Torstein would be sleeping next to her all night made the nervousness in her belly increase tenfold, but Signe smiled regardless and stepped forward to join him.
Had she been in a private room, Signe would have taken off her traveling clothes and slept in something a bit more comfortable. But seeing as she was out in the open and about to share a bed with Torstein, she quickly decided against her normal sleeping attire. To preserve her modesty, she decided to only take off the belt that had been around her waist and her outermost tunic, before slowly slipping off her boots. Torstein, she noticed, had turned his back to her so that she had privacy, despite the fact that she had not really revealed anything. Signe smiled at the gesture, then quickly laid down on the pallet and pulled the blankets over herself.
She glanced at Torstein one or twice as he took off his belt and boots and shrugged off the leather vest he had been wearing over his tunic. She then looked elsewhere as he slid into the bed beside her, his body heat quickly washing over her as he made himself comfortable. Signe lay there for a few moments, her eyes watching the shadows of the flame in the hearth as it danced across the ceiling, feeling acutely aware of the fact that Torstein lay only a few inches away from her. She had been able to feel the stirrings of exhaustion earlier after filling her belly with food and ale, but now, as she lay there in silence next to Torstein, she was wide awake.
Finally, when she could stand the silence no longer, she turned on her side to face Torstein. He had been looking up at the ceiling, too, but turned his gaze to hers when she shifted. "I find that I am not tired," Signe confessed quietly.
Torstein smirked. "Nor am I."
Signe smiled and fiddled with a loose string hanging from the blanket she and Torstein were under. "I like Tóra and Jorund," she confessed, deciding that since they were both awake then they might as well talk. "They are nice people, and very welcoming."
"I told you they would be," Torstein said with a nod.
"Well, you were right," she responded. "Generosity runs in your family, it vould seem."
Torstein smiled at her for a moment, then gave her a look of apology. "I am sorry if Tóra's misunderstanding of our relationship embarrassed you," he said.
Signe shook her head, despite the blush that reentered her cheeks. "I am not embarrassed," she told him.
Torstein stared at her, as if trying to determine if she was telling the truth or not, before smiling gently. "I am glad."
Signe looked at him for a moment, then sat up a bit as she remembered something that had happened over dinner, propping her head up on the her hand so that she could peer down at Torstein with curious eyes. "May I ask you something?" she asked, to which Torstein nodded. "Tóra seemed…tense…when I asked Jorund about fighting," she said. "Is there a reason why?"
Torstein frowned and nodded. "Tóra loved our father and brother very much," he stated first and foremost. "When they died on the raid…she was absolutely heartbroken. She grieved for them for weeks, so consumed by sadness that I feared she vould never smile again," he said, frowning to himself as he reflected back on those days. "It took a very long time, but eventually she began to recover from their deaths. She was bitter, though, and vowed that she would never marry a warrior, convinced if she did so that she would lose him the same way we lost our brother and father."
"I assume Jorund was a warrior when they met, then," she guessed.
Torstein nodded. "And a very skilled one at that," he confirmed. "Tóra loved him from the moment they met, and he loved her in return. But she remained firm in her resolve, and told him that she vould not be with him if he intended to put his life at risk by fighting and raiding. So, after much contemplation, Jorund bid farewell to his days as a warrior and swore to Tóra that he would never fight in another battle or raid. They married shortly after," he concluded.
Signe nodded slowly as she let the story sink in. "I see," she said, before raising her brows at him. "So what exactly does she have to say about you fighting?"
Torstein snorted. "She despises it," he revealed bluntly, which made her smile. "She begged me not to pick up the shield, but I simply could not resist the call," he said, shaking his head. "It is in my blood. I was meant to be a fighter. I vill always choose the axe over the plow."
Signe nodded in understanding. "I feel the same way as you," she told him, which had him looking at her with interest. "Everyone in my family has been a warrior. My brothers. My father. My mother. Theirparents before them, and then theirs before them. There was no denying the warrior blood in my veins. I was always meant to walk this path. I have known that since I was just a little girl."
"Is that so?" Torstein asked, looking intrigued.
Signe nodded, then smiled as she thought back to all the times she had seen her parents and brothers off to war or raid, and how she had always begged for them to let her come with them. "Even when I was too small to carry a sword or a shield, I was still eager to join them on the battlefield. I hated watching them leave without me and used to beg my family to let me fight alongside them. I thought I vould be able to protect them."
Torstein grinned. "I can imagine you as a fierce little girl, standing knee high and shaking your fists as you demand to go into battle," he said with a chuckle.
Signe laughed with him. "You are not too far off," she admitted. "I vas so determined to join them that I even attempted to sneak onto a boat once," she revealed.
Torstein smirked with amusement. "That could not have ended well."
Signe shook her head. "Father was furious. He very nearly beat me right then and there in front of all the Hedeby warriors," she said with a click of her tongue. "Mother was not happy, either, but I could still tell that she was reluctantly amused by the whole thing. She was usually the more understanding one out of the two."
Torstein gave her a long look as Signe smiled at the memory of her beloved mother. "You miss your mother," he said observantly.
Signe blinked, her smiled faltering, then nodded. "Every day," she confessed. "My mother was the sort of woman I can only dream to be. Smart and kind and beautiful, dedicated and loving to her family but certainly no one to be trifled with, especially so on the battlefield," she said with a fond smile. After a moment, that smile turned somber. "I vill always miss her. And I vill always wish that I had more time with her."
Torstein gave her a long look. "If your mother is as you describe, then you sound as though you are more like her than you give yourself credit for," he said seriously, which made her give him a look of surprise.
Signe smiled, trying hard not to blush. Did that mean that he thought her to be smart and kind and beautiful, just as she had described her mother to be? "Are you complimenting me?" she asked.
Torstein smirked. "Yes," he answered simply.
Signe did blush then, and had to turn her eyes away for a moment. When she looked back to Torstein, he was still watching her closely. "Well," she said, clearing her throat, "if I become even half the shieldmaiden she was, then I will consider my life a very successful one indeed," she said to steer the conversation back to safer grounds. "I never saw her in battle, but from what I understand, she was a fearsome sight to behold."
"You are quite fearsome on the battlefield yourself, Signe," Torstein said with raised brows. "Become any more terrifying than you already are and men vill simply drop dead at your feet without you even needing to swing your axe."
Signe laughed at that, then quirked a teasing brow. "Well, prepare to watch men drop dead then, Torstein. For as my mother always said – those kissed by fire grow to be the fiercest warriors."
She had expected he might laugh at her joking tone or say something witty in return, but he didn't. Instead, Torstein's expression turned to one of shock, his eyes going wide. "What did you say?" he asked with furrowed brows.
Signe frowned a bit, unsure what to make of his reaction. "Those kissed by fire grow to be the fiercest warriors," she repeated, still trying to figure out why Torstein looked so taken aback by such a simple little saying. "It was just…something my mother used to tell me when I was a girl," she told him with a self-conscious shrug.
"Why kissed by fire?" he asked, his expression still the same. "What does that mean?"
"It is a reference to my hair," Signe said, gesturing to her long, auburn locks. "She always claimed that having red hair meant I had been kissed by fire. I do not know where the saying came from," she admitted with a shake of her head. "I alvays thought she made it up." Signe frowned now, unsure what to make of the way Torstein continued to gawk at her. "Have I said something wrong, Torstein?" she finally asked.
Torstein finally blinked, then vehemently shook his head. "No," he told her, forcing on a small smile. "The saying just…made me think of something someone told me once."
Signe quirked her eyebrow. "Was it something bad?"
Torstein shook his head again. "No."
Signe waited, expecting that he might elaborate a little further, but he didn't. After a few moments passed by and it became clear that Torstein wasn't going to say anything else on the matter, she finally decided that perhaps it was time to put an end to this suddenly awkward conversation and get some rest.
"Perhaps we should sleep," she suggested gently. Torstein nodded silently in agreement. She waited one last second to see if he would say anything more, then finally gave him a small smile. "Goodnight, Torstein."
"Goodnight, Signe," he said quietly in response.
Signe lay back down after that, turning onto her other side so that her back was to Torstein. It took a long time for her to fall asleep, though, and judging by the pace of Torstein's breathing, it took him a long time as well.
Torstein couldn't sleep. His mind was racing too much for him to sleep.
He waited until he was absolutely certain that Signe was sleeping before turning onto his side so that he could look at her. She was still lying with her back facing him, breathing slowly and deeply in her sleep. She was only a few inches away, so close that he could feel the heat of her body and smell the combination of earth and flowers that clung to her hair and clothes. He looked his fill, taking in the gentle curves of her frame and her long hair, which looked as wild and vibrant as the flames currently still flickering in the hearth.
Kissed by fire. The words had confused him when he had heard them from the Seer, but now…now he understood. Signe was indeed the woman the Seer had spoken of. It was what he had suspected, what he had hoped for, but still…to know that she was the one the Seer had seen in his future made him feel as if someone had punched him in the gut.
Torstein sighed, having to fight the strong urge to reach out and touch one of her soft, auburn curls.
What was he to do now? He had been holding himself back from pursuing Signe for a month. He had ignored his attraction as best as he could so that he could be there for her as the friend that she needed while she recovered from the heartbreak that Bjorn had made her feel – a heartbreak, mind you, that he knew with certainty she was still struggling with. On top of that, she was going home. She would return to Hedeby, where she would stay and continue the life that she had been leading before the Gods had decided to bring her into his life. After he left her there, when would they see each other next? Ragnar had told him that he had invited Signe to sail west with them during next summer's raids, but that was a year away. That was an entire year in which anything could happen, and the thought of having to wait that long to see her again was one he instantly knew he disliked.
Torstein heaved and turned onto his back. The words the Seer had said to him before leaving Kattegat swirled through his mind, making his brows furrow with contemplation. He had said that there were two paths to choose from, one, he now knew, that could lead to a future with Signe, and one that would lead to a future without her. But he had also said that Signe's heart would not be easy to win, which considering her recent heartbreak, he could fully understand why the task would be difficult.
So, again…what was he to do? They would reach Hedeby in a week, maybe two if they slowed their pace for the sake of Gunnar's health. That meant he didn't have very long at all to choose which path he was going to walk. Would he let Signe go? Would he leave her in Hedeby and allow her to live whatever life she wanted while he claimed the glory-filled future the Seer had predicted? Or was he prepared to throw caution to the wind and fight for both Signe and whatever future the Seer had seen with her?
Signe shifted in her sleep, drawing his attention back to her. She had turned over so that she was facing him now, and as she sighed in her sleep, one of her hands came to rest on his arm. The touch, innocent and gentle as it was, made his heart leap in his chest. Though his mind was jumbled with confusing thoughts and indecision, as he took in the peaceful expression on her beautiful face, somewhere deep down, he suddenly began to feel like the decision might have already been made for him. He cared for Signe, more than he could remembering caring for anything or anyone in a very long time, and that was not something he could ignore. And at the end of the day, Torstein was a warrior. He had never backed down from a fight before.
Why start now?
Hope you guys liked it!